Preventing tool rust

[Shipfittin]

I've seen in Wal Mart's tool section a few times they sell one of these little corrosion protection things you stick in your tool box. It's supposed to prevent your tools from rusting. I tried to find it online and I think it's one of these vapor things that's suppose to remove the moister from the air in your box or something?

I was curious if anyone had any experience with these and if they worked at all?

My tools usually sit on a pier and rust is a big issue for my tools. I try to keep them clean but my job really prevents me from really oiling them or anything. They view any type of oil from your pneumatic oils and kroil on up as hazardous material and we can't just use them when we want. They have to be checked out and used on specific tasks.

If anyone has any other ideas I'd appreciate some feedback. I don't really have an issue with my thumb clamps or screwdrivers just mainly hammers and wrenches.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

i put sislica gel packs in my drawers works well

my friend works at clarks landing and uses veggie oil in his gun when on the water

 

[dwm]

I use EEZOX on my tools. If applied correctly, it dries without an oily film. Intended for firearms, but it works well on tools as well. I mainly use it on the tools in the detached garage which see lots of condensation cycling. In the attached garage (climate controlled), I can get away with cheaper solutions day-to-day (WD40, etc.) but I still apply EEZOX once every 6 months. Especially on the non-chromed tools that don't see frequent use (most of my specialty stuff has black oxide finish).

No idea how your employer would view EEZOX. The MSDS is here. It's the vapors when drying that are the main issue. If you spray it on, you need to wipe it a little while later or you'll have a semi-wet film for a while. I usually apply with a rag or cotton balls; a little goes a long way.

 

[reptilezs]

boshield t9. spray it on heavy for seldom used tools or spray and wipe off with a rag for more common tools

 

[hydramatic]

we use camphor blocks in the tool storage area for our precision tools.. available at the drug store. The vapor keeps rust at bay...for our everyday stuff we use Gibbs...another good one is Rust Free, available from A G Russell Knives...

 

[pipsters]

I use a Zerust tab in my shotgun case and so far over a few years it has worked well.

They make drawer liners as well, duration of 5 years.

http://www.zerustproducts.com/toolbox-tackle-box/drawer-liners

I use camphor which is an old school way of the same concept. Next time I will just buy the Zerust product seeing how fast the camphor blocks evaporate.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...words=camphor+blocks&x=0&y=0&sprefix=camphor+

As they evaporate they deposit a thin film of vapor on the tools, same as Zerust. This prevents moisture from adhering to the surface.

The other way is to spray stuff on your tools but I find that to be annoying.

Silica packets might work for a short time or if your tool box was sealed but it probably isn't. If you had a way of vacuum sealing your tool box you could toss a few silica packets in and they would never rust.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

You use your hands to rub them as you use them. Or T9.

 

[Shipfittin]

I might try one of these capsules, I think I could get away with that. Maybe I'll do a review on it. Most of my tools are pretty good, but I have a few that rust over quick as soon as I clean them up they are rusty within a few days.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

here ya go. Dehumidifier

 

[pipsters]

I might try one of these capsules, I think I could get away with that. Maybe I'll do a review on it. Most of my tools are pretty good, but I have a few that rust over quick as soon as I clean them up they are rusty within a few days.

I'd be real interested to see if it makes a difference. Since yours rust so fast you would be able to tell quickly if it's working or not.

 

[ZRX61]

I've found that living in the Mojave Desert is the best way of preventing rust.

 

[kythri]

Dumb question - I haven't really had a rust problem here in Oregon. My shop is dry, but it's Oregon, so the moisture is in the air.

I'm currently evaluating tool storage at the moment, and looking at a temporary solution - I've got (4) Wright-Line Optimedia cabinets I picked up a few years ago. They're 36" wide, 18" deep and 84" tall.

They've got retractable drawers/shelves in them, and I'm debating moving the tools out of my Craftsman and Husky cabinets into the Wright-Lines so I can sell them and add that money to my "pro" tool box fund.

I guess my question here is - those tools, having been in their drawers and the drawers being closed, has that helped to protect them? If I move them into these cabinets and a more "open air" scenario, will I possibly see a greater risk of rust or corrosion?

 

[Stuart in MN]

The vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) stuff does work. It's the same principle as the camphor block mentioned earlier. Here's a good brand: http://www.theruststore.com/VCI-C12.aspx

 

[Joe B.]

Dumb question - I haven't really had a rust problem here in Oregon. My shop is dry, but it's Oregon, so the moisture is in the air.

I have lived in Oregon (damp), Los Angeles (dry) and Chicago (humid). To me it seems like the dampness in Oregon is different from the humidity in Chicago. Oregon is misty and foggy a good bit of the year when it is cold but it is dry in the summer. Chicago on the other hand is cold and dry in the winter and humid in the summer. The humidity here seems to seep through everything while the mistiness in Oregon seems to stay outside. You never see fog in your garage.

This is just theory and is based on no facts.

This year I purchased some Zerust tabs and I'll have a pretty good idea of how they work in about a year. So far, they seem to be doing a good job. I have some body hammers that will rust if they sit out in my garage for a month and nothing is on them after three months.